On July 11, 2017 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted that the results of ALFA-0701 demonstrated a favorable risk:benefit profile for MYLOTARG (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) 3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4 and 7 added to chemotherapy for patients with newly-diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Pfizer, JUL 11, 2017, View Source [SID1234519788]). The role of the Advisory Committee is to provide recommendations to the FDA. The FDA decision on whether or not to approve the MYLOTARG application is anticipated by September 2017.

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"We are extremely pleased with the Committee’s recommendation and believe this is an important step toward our goal of making MYLOTARG available to patients with newly-diagnosed AML," said Mace Rothenberg, MD, Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development. "We look forward to working closely with the FDA as we continue the regulatory process. We are grateful to both the investigators who led MYLOTARG clinical trials and the patients who participated."

The ODAC discussions were based on the Biologics License Application (BLA) currently under review by the FDA. The BLA includes Pfizer-sponsored studies from the original New Drug Application (NDA) for MYLOTARG, an investigator-led Phase 3 randomized, open-label study (ALFA-0701) and an individual patient data meta-analysis from over 3,000 patients in five randomized Phase 3 studies (including ALFA-0701). These studies span 10 years of research and include more than 4,300 patients.

"Clinical studies investigating MYLOTARG have provided a significant body of evidence supporting the risk:benefit profile of MYLOTARG in AML," said Jorge Cortes, MD, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Based on the totality of the efficacy and safety data, MYLOTARG, if approved, has the potential to be an important treatment option for adult patients with AML."

Due to the critical unmet need for patients with newly-diagnosed AML, there has been great interest among AML investigators to evaluate MYLOTARG in this population using different doses and different schedules of MYLOTARG. These investigator-led clinical trials have provided more information on the efficacy and safety of MYLOTARG.

ODAC is an independent panel of experts that evaluates data concerning the efficacy and safety of marketed and investigational cancer treatments and makes recommendations to the FDA. Its vote is not binding, but is considered by the FDA in its decision-making process.

About AML

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults and accounts for approximately 80% of all cases of acute leukemia.1 About 21,380 people are expected to be diagnosed with AML in the United States in 2017.2 Despite recent developments in understanding the scientific basis of AML and its treatment, there has been little progress in increasing the long-term survival rate in AML patients.3 Only one in four patients with AML survive longer than five years.2

About MYLOTARG (gemtuzumab ozogamicin)

MYLOTARG is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of the cytotoxic agent calicheamicin, attached to a monoclonal antibody (mAB) targeting CD33, an antigen expressed on the surface of myeloblasts in more than 90 percent of AML patients.4,5,6 When MYLOTARG binds to the CD33 antigen on the cell surface it is absorbed into the cell and calicheamicin is released causing cell death.4,5

MYLOTARG was originally approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval program in 2000 for use as a single agent in patients with CD33-positive AML who had experienced their first relapse and were 60 years or older. In 2010, Pfizer voluntarily withdrew MYLOTARG after a confirmatory Phase 3 trial (SWOG S0106) did not show a clinical benefit, and the rate of fatalities as a result of treatment-related toxicity was significantly higher in the MYLOTARG arm.

While ODAC discussed MYLOTARG for newly-diagnosed CD33-positive AML, Pfizer is currently seeking approval in the U.S. for MYLOTARG in two indications:

In combination with standard chemotherapy for the treatment of previously untreated de novo CD33-positive AML.
As monotherapy for the treatment of CD33-positive AML patients in first relapse who are 60 years of age or older and who are not considered candidates for other cytotoxic chemotherapy.
MYLOTARG is commercially available in Japan where it is approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory CD33-positive AML who are not considered candidates for other cytotoxic chemotherapy.

MYLOTARG originates from a collaboration between Pfizer and Celltech, now UCB. Pfizer has sole responsibility for all manufacturing and clinical development activities for this molecule.